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The demonstrations, popularly referred to as the "Gen Z" protests as most participants were in their teens or early 20s, have triggered Nepal’s worst upheaval in years, forcing unpopular leader K.P. Sharma Oli to resign on Sept. 9, a day after 19 protesters were killed in violence.
The death toll has since risen to 34 and more than 1,300 were injured, Nepal’s health ministry said.
Leaders of the Gen Z protest movement distanced themselves from the arson attacks blaming infiltrators, but analysts point to mounting frustration at wealth inequality in Nepal and at perceived corruption within Nepal’s political leadership.
While the parliament, the prime minister’s office and the Supreme Court were still burning, arsonists also attacked five-star hotels, including the Hilton, Nepal's tallest hotel, the Hyatt Regency and Varnabas Museum Hotel.
The Hyatt Regency, a sprawling property near Boudhanath Stupa, among the most important Buddhist sites in Nepal and a draw for tourists, was damaged by protesters, Bhushan Rane, the hotel’s front office manager, told Reuters.
No guests or staff were injured, Rane added. Due to the political unrest, the hotel will remain closed until further notice.
Tourism is the lifeblood of Nepal’s economy.
The Hilton Hotel, a five-star glass tower, was also torched, sending black plumes of smoke into the sky. The Kathmandu Hilton was opened in 2024 by Shahil Agrawal, the scion of a Nepalese steelmaking business-turned-conglomerate, the Shanker Group.
A Hilton spokesperson said the property had been closed following damage sustained during the protests and guests and staff were safely evacuated. A full assessment of the building would be undertaken, the statement said.
